U.S. patent number 11,171,449 [Application Number 15/879,180] was granted by the patent office on 2021-11-09 for charger and charging system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NINTENDO CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is NINTENDO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Shinji Hirose, Daisuke Kumazaki, Takafumi Nishida.
United States Patent |
11,171,449 |
Hirose , et al. |
November 9, 2021 |
Charger and charging system
Abstract
A pedestal type device that functions as a non-limiting example
charger comprises a connection portion that is constituted by a
connection plug and a cover. The cover is supported so as to be
movable up and down through a second hole of a placement portion.
Furthermore, a convex portion that is protruded toward a front side
is provided in a center of a lower end portion of a rear support
portion. Two first projections are formed on an upper surface of
the cover, and a first hole is formed between them. The connection
plug is supported so as to be movable up and down through a third
hole. If the convex portion is fitted into a first concave portion
formed in a rear surface of electronic device when the electronic
device is placed on the placement portion, the first projections
are respectively fitted into two third concave portions formed on
an undersurface of the electronic device, whereby the cover is
pushed down. Therefore, the connection plug is inserted into the
depths of a connector of the electronic device.
Inventors: |
Hirose; Shinji (Kyoto,
JP), Kumazaki; Daisuke (Kyoto, JP),
Nishida; Takafumi (Kyoto, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NINTENDO CO., LTD. |
Kyoto |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
NINTENDO CO., LTD. (Kyoto,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
1000005923338 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/879,180 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20180151982 A1 |
May 31, 2018 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15299791 |
Oct 21, 2016 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 27, 2015 [JP] |
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2015-210644 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/16 (20130101); H02J 7/0044 (20130101); G06F
1/1632 (20130101); A63F 13/98 (20140902); A63F
13/90 (20140902); H01R 13/629 (20130101); H04M
1/04 (20130101); A63F 13/92 (20140902); H01R
13/4538 (20130101); H01R 13/6315 (20130101); H01R
24/60 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/629 (20060101); H04M 1/04 (20060101); H01R
13/453 (20060101); H01R 24/60 (20110101); H01R
13/631 (20060101); A63F 13/90 (20140101); A63F
13/92 (20140101); A63F 13/98 (20140101); H02J
7/00 (20060101); G06F 1/16 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2 446 944 |
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May 2012 |
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EP |
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11-024787 |
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Jan 1999 |
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JP |
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11-353058 |
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Dec 1999 |
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JP |
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2000-040534 |
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Feb 2000 |
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JP |
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2003-61253 |
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Feb 2003 |
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JP |
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2003-118671 |
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Apr 2003 |
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JP |
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2005-129453 |
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May 2005 |
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JP |
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2005129453 |
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May 2005 |
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JP |
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2009-161008 |
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Jul 2009 |
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JP |
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2009-259682 |
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Nov 2009 |
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JP |
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2010-119273 |
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May 2010 |
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JP |
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2012-032919 |
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Feb 2012 |
|
JP |
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2012-044783 |
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Mar 2012 |
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JP |
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2012-249644 |
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Dec 2012 |
|
JP |
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2014-075327 |
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Apr 2014 |
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JP |
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2015-018316 |
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Jan 2015 |
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JP |
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WO 2014/125803 |
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Aug 2014 |
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WO |
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WO-2014125803 |
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Aug 2014 |
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WO |
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Other References
Mar. 7, 2017 Extended European Search Report issued in European
Application No. 16195234.6. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Henze-Gongola; David V
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
15/299,791, filed Oct. 21, 2016, and claims priority to Japanese
patent application No. 2015-210644 filed on Oct. 27, 2015, the
entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A charger that charges an electronic device that includes a
female electrical connector including a first electrical contact, a
first fitting portion offset from a first surface, and a second
fitting portion offset from a second surface different from the
first surface, the charger comprising: a third fitting portion
configured to fit within the first fitting portion, the third
fitting portion being non-conductive; a fourth fitting portion
configured to fit within the second fitting portion, the fourth
fitting portion being non-conductive; a male electrical connector
including a second electrical contact configured to be inserted
into the female electrical connector of the electronic device to
electrically connect the first electrical contact and the second
electrical contact; and a placement portion that includes the third
fitting portion, the fourth fitting portion and the male electrical
connector, and the placement portion is configured to receive the
electronic device and hold the electronic device in a predetermined
orientation, wherein the female electrical connector and the male
electrical connector are configured to engage in an engaging
direction; the third fitting portion is configured to partially fit
within the first fitting portion to align the male electrical
connector with the female electrical connector such that when the
charger and the electronic device are moved towards each other
along the engaging direction, the third fitting portion partially
fits inside of the first fitting portion before the male electrical
connector is inserted into the female electrical connector; and the
fourth fitting portion and the male electrical connector are
exposed from the placement portion such that when the charger and
the electronic device are fully engaged, the male electrical
connector and the fourth fitting portion extend into the electronic
device and the male electrical connector extends farther into the
electronic device than the fourth fitting portion.
2. The charger of claim 1, wherein the fourth fitting portion is a
projection and the second fitting portion is a recess configured to
receive the projection.
3. The charger of claim 1, wherein the fourth fitting portion
includes two projections and the second fitting portion includes
two recesses configured to receive the two projections.
4. The charger of claim 3, wherein the male electrical connector is
between the two projections.
5. The charger of claim 3, wherein the male electrical connector is
centered between the two projections.
6. The charger of claim 1, further comprising a support surface
configured to support a rear side of the electronic device while
the electronic device is received in the placement portion.
7. The charger of claim 6, wherein the third fitting portion is a
protrusion protruding away from the support surface and the first
fitting portion is a recess configured to receive the
protrusion.
8. The charger of claim 1, further comprising a support surface
configured to support the first surface of the electronic device
while the electronic device is received in the placement
portion.
9. The charger of claim 1, further comprising a support surface
configured to support a rear side of the electronic device while
the electronic device is received in the placement portion, and the
engaging direction is parallel to the support surface.
10. The charger of claim 1, wherein the first surface intersects
the second surface orthogonally or substantially orthogonally.
11. The charger of claim 1, wherein the third fitting portion is
configured to control a position of the electronic device relative
to the placement portion, and the fourth fitting portion is
configured to control a position of the female electrical connector
relative to the male electrical connector.
12. The charger of claim 1, wherein the second fitting portion and
the fourth fitting portion are configured to engage in the engaging
direction, and the fourth fitting portion includes a projection
having an inclined surface that is inclined to the engaging
direction.
13. The charger of claim 1, wherein the fourth fitting portion
includes a projection in a shape of cone or truncated cone.
14. The charger of claim 1, wherein the engaging direction is
linear.
15. The charger of claim 1, wherein the third fitting portion
roughly aligns the female electrical connector with the male
electrical connector and the fourth fitting portion aligns the
female electrical connector with the male electrical connector more
precisely than the third fitting portion.
16. The charger of claim 1, wherein the third fitting portion is
configured to limit movement of the electronic device relative to
the charger in a direction that is perpendicular to the engaging
direction, when the third fitting portion partially fits inside of
the first fitting portion.
17. The charger of claim 1, wherein the third fitting portion
extends from the placement portion farther than the male electrical
connector in a direction that is parallel to the engaging
direction.
18. A charger that charges an electronic device that includes a
female electrical connector including a first electrical contact, a
first recess on a first surface, and a second recess on a second
surface different from the first surface, the charger comprising: a
first protrusion shaped to be received within the first recess, the
first protrusion being non-conductive; a second protrusion shaped
to be received within the second recess, the second protrusion
being non-conductive; a male electrical connector including a
second electrical contact and configured to be inserted into the
female electrical connector of the electronic device to
electrically connect the first electrical contact and the second
electrical contact; and a placement portion that includes the first
protrusion, the second protrusion and the male electrical
connector, and the placement portion is configured to receive the
electronic device and hold the electronic device in a predetermined
orientation, wherein the first protrusion is configured to
partially fit inside of the first recess to align the male
electrical connector with the female electrical connector such that
when the charger and the electronic device are moved towards each
other, the first protrusion partially fits inside of the first
recess before the male electrical connector is inserted into the
female electrical connector; and wherein the second protrusion and
the male electrical connector are exposed from the placement
portion such that when the charger and the electronic device are
fully engaged, the male electrical connector and the second
protrusion extend into the electronic device and the male
electrical connector extends farther into the electronic device
than the second protrusion.
19. The charger of claim 18, further comprising a third protrusion
with the same shape as the second protrusion and shaped to be
received in a third recess on the second surface of the electronic
device.
20. The charger of claim 19, wherein the male electrical connector
is between the second protrusion and the third protrusion.
21. The charger of claim 19, wherein the male electrical connector
is centered between the second protrusion and the third
protrusion.
22. The charger of claim 18, further comprising a support surface
configured to support a rear side of the electronic device while
the electronic device is received in the placement portion.
23. The charger of claim 22, wherein the first protrusion protrudes
away from the support surface.
24. The charger of claim 18, wherein the female electrical
connector and the male electrical connector are configured to
engage in an engaging direction; and the first protrusion is
configured to be partially received within the first recess due to
movement of the charger and the electronic device towards each
other along the engaging direction before the female electrical
connector and the male electrical connector are engaged.
25. The charger of claim 24, further comprising a support surface
configured to support a rear side of the electronic device while
the electronic device is received in the placement portion, and the
engaging direction is parallel to the support surface.
26. The charger of claim 18, wherein the first surface intersects
the second surface orthogonally or substantially orthogonally.
27. The charger of claim 18, wherein the first protrusion is
configured to control a position of the electronic device relative
to the placement portion, and the second protrusion is configured
to control a position of the female electrical connector relative
to the male electrical connector.
28. The charger of claim 18, wherein the second recess and the
second protrusion are configured to engage in an engaging
direction, and the second protrusion has an inclined surface that
is inclined to the engaging direction.
29. The charger of claim 28, wherein the second protrusion includes
a cone or truncated cone.
30. The charger of claim 18, wherein the female electrical
connector and the male electrical connector are configured to
engage in an engaging direction; and the second protrusion is
configured to partially engage with the second recess due to
movement of the charger and the electronic device towards each
other along the engaging direction before the female electrical
connector and the male electrical connector are completely
engaged.
31. The charger of claim 18, wherein the first protrusion and the
second protrusion have different fitting precisions.
32. The charger of claim 18, wherein the first protrusion is
configured to limit lateral movement of the electronic device
relative to the charger, when the first protrusion partially fits
inside of the first recess.
33. The charger of claim 18, wherein the first protrusion extends
from the placement portion farther than the male electrical
connector in a longitudinal direction of the first protrusion and
the male electrical connector.
Description
FIELD
This application describes a charger and a charge system, charging
a battery of electronic device that is placed on a pedestal.
SUMMARY
It is a primary object of an embodiment(s) to provide a novel
charger and charging system.
Furthermore, it is another object of the embodiment(s) to provide a
charger and charging system, capable of easily placing electronic
device in a correct position of a placement portion of the charger
even if a connection portion is invisible.
Moreover, it is a further object of the embodiment(s) to provide a
charger and charging system, capable of charging electronic device
even if the electronic device has different size.
A first embodiment is a charger that charges an electronic device
while placing the same on a placement portion. The charger
comprises a second fitting portion, a fourth fitting portion and a
second connection terminal. The second fitting portion is
configured to be fitted to a first fitting portion on a first
surface of the electronic device. For example, the second fitting
portion is a convex portion or a concave portion. Therefore, the
first fitting portion is a concave portion or a convex portion. The
fourth fitting portion is configured to be fitted to a third
fitting portion on a second surface of the electronic device is
different from the first surface in a state where the first fitting
portion is fitted to the second fitting portion. That is, when the
first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to
each other, the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting
portion are fitted to each other in a state where the electronic
device is positioned to the charger. For example, the fourth
fitting portion is a convex portion or a concave portion.
Therefore, the third fitting portion is a concave portion or a
convex portion. The second connection terminal is configured to be
electrically connected to a first connection terminal of the
electronic device in conjunction with the fourth fitting
portion.
According to the first embodiment, the third fitting portion and
the fourth fitting portion are fitted to each other in a state
where the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are
fitted to each other, and the second connection terminal is
interlocked with this fourth fitting portion, whereby the first
connection terminal and the second connection terminal can be
electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, even if a
connection portion is invisible, it is possible for a user to
easily place the electronic device in a correct position of the
placement portion by shifting a position of the electronic device
to the charger.
A second embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein the first surface intersects the second surface
orthogonally or substantively orthogonally.
A third embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein the second fitting portion functions as a first
positioning member that determines a position of the electronic
device to the placement portion, and the fourth fitting portion
functions as a second positioning member that determines a position
of the first connection terminal to the second connection
terminal.
According to the third embodiment, since positioning is performed
in two stages, it is possible to determine positions of the first
connection terminal and the second connection terminal easily and
precisely.
A fourth embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein a fitting precision of the second fitting
portion and the first fitting portion is lower than a fitting
precision of the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting
portion. Specifically, since the fourth fitting portion is fitted
to the third fitting portion in a state where the first fitting
portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other,
the positions of the first connection terminal and the second
connection terminal are roughly determined by the first positioning
member, and the positions of the first connection terminal and the
second connection terminal are finely determined by the second
positioning member.
According to the fourth embodiment, since the positioning with low
precision and the positioning with high precision are performed in
this order, it is possible to determine positions of the first
connection terminal and the second connection terminal easily and
precisely.
A fifth embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein the second fitting portion is in a position is
configured to fit to the first fitting portion prior to the fourth
fitting portion is fitted to the third fitting portion when placing
the electronic device on the placement portion.
According to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to perform the
positioning with low precision and the positioning with high
precision in this order dependent on the position where the second
fitting portion is.
A sixth embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein the fourth fitting portion is movable in a
direction perpendicular to a direction that the electronic device
is placed on the placement portion.
According to the sixth embodiment, even if the electronic device is
slightly shifted in the direction perpendicular to the direction to
place on the placement portion, the fourth fitting portion is
fitted to the third fitting portion, and therefore, the first
connection terminal and the second connection terminal can be
surely connected to each other.
A seventh embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, further comprising an elastic body that is disposed
between the fourth fitting portion and a main body of the
charger.
According to the seventh embodiment, the fourth fitting portion is
movable in a direction that a shape of the elastic body is changed.
Therefore, even if the position of the fourth fitting portion to
the third fitting portion is slightly shifted, the fourth fitting
portion can be fitted to the third fitting portion.
An eighth embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, wherein the second connection terminal is disposed
between two fourth fitting portions.
According to the eighth embodiment, if two third fitting portions
are provided correspondingly to the two fourth fitting portions,
even if the electronics equipment is turned in a direction
perpendicular to the direction that the electronics equipment is
placed on the placement portion, it is possible to make the first
connection terminal and the second connection terminal face each
other when the third fitting portions and the fourth fitting
portions are fitted to each other, respectively. Therefore, it is
possible to surely connect the first connection terminal and the
second connection terminal to each other.
A ninth embodiment is the charger according to the first
embodiment, further comprising a movable member. The movable member
surrounds at least the second connection terminal, and is
configured to move in a first direction that the electronic device
is placed on the placement portion. For example, prior to the first
fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each
other, the movable member covers except a tip end portion of the
second connection terminal. Furthermore, the movable member is
moved after the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting
portion are fitted to each other, whereby the second connection
terminal is exposed.
According to the ninth embodiment, since the second connection
terminal is almost covered by the movable member when not using the
second connection terminal, the second connection terminal can be
protected so as not to receive an impact etc. Furthermore, when
using the second connection terminal, the movable member is moved,
whereby the second connection terminal can be exposed.
A tenth embodiment is the charger according to the ninth
embodiment, wherein the fourth fitting portion is on a surface of
the movable member.
According to the tenth embodiment, since the fourth fitting portion
is on the surface of the movable member, if the movable member is
moved, the fourth fitting portion is also moved. Therefore, the
fourth fitting portion can be interlocked with the second
connection terminal.
An eleventh embodiment is the charger according to the tenth
embodiment, wherein the fourth fitting portion includes a
projection having an inclined surface that is inclined to the first
direction.
According to the eleventh embodiment, since the fourth fitting
portion has the inclined surface that is inclined to the first
direction, when fitting the fourth fitting portion to the third
fitting portion, a displacement of the fourth fitting portion in a
direction perpendicular to the first direction can be absorbed by
the inclined surface.
A twelfth embodiment is the charger according to the tenth
embodiment, wherein the fourth fitting portion includes a
projection in a shape of cone or truncated cone.
According also to the twelfth embodiment, a displacement of the
fourth fitting portion in a direction perpendicular to the first
direction can be absorbed when fitting the fourth fitting portion
to the third fitting portion.
A thirteenth embodiment is the charger according to the ninth
embodiment, further comprising a first support member and a second
support member. The first support member supports the second
connection terminal movably in a second direction perpendicular to
the first direction. The second support member is different from
the first support member, and supports the movable member movably
in at least the second direction. When the third fitting portion is
fitted to the fourth fitting portion, the second connection
terminal is moved in the second direction as the movable member is
moved in the second direction.
According to the thirteenth embodiment, since the second connection
terminal is moved in the second direction as the movable member is
moved in the second direction when the third fitting portion is
fitted to the fourth fitting portion, it is possible to move the
second connection terminal that is surrounded by the movable member
to a position opposing the first connection terminal.
A fourteenth embodiment is the charger according to the thirteenth
embodiment, wherein each of the first support member and the second
support member includes an elastic body.
According to the fourteenth embodiment, since the second connection
terminal and the movable member are supported by the elastic bodies
only, it is possible implement high-precision positioning with
simple structure.
A fifteenth embodiment is a charger that charges an electronic
device that has a first fitting portion and a first connection
terminal, and is placed on a placement portion of the charger,
comprising: a second fitting portion is configured to be fitted to
the first fitting portion; a second connection terminal is
configured to be electrically connected to the first connection
terminal; and a movable member that is movable in a direction
perpendicular to a direction that the electronic device is placed
on the placement portion in conjunction with the second fitting
portion, and surrounds of the second connection terminal.
According to the fifteenth embodiment, since the movable member is,
when the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are
fitted to each other, the movable member is moved in conjunction
with the second fitting portion, and the second connection terminal
is also moved according to this, whereby a position gap of the
second connection terminal from the first connection terminal can
be absorbed.
A sixteenth embodiment is a charging system comprising an
electronic device and a charger that charges the electronic device
placed on a placement portion of a placement portion, wherein the
electronic device comprises a first fitting portion on a first
surface, a second fitting portion on a second surface that is
different from the first surface, and a first connection terminal,
and a charger comprises a third fitting portion is configured to be
fitted to the first fitting portion, a fourth fitting portion is
configured to be fitted to the second fitting portion in a state
where the first fitting portion is fitted to the third fitting
portion, and a second connection terminal is configured to be
electrically connected to the first connection terminal of the
electronic device in conjunction with the fourth fitting
portion.
According also to the sixteenth embodiment, likewise the first
embodiment, even if a connection portion is invisible, by shifting
a position of the electronic device to the charger, the first
fitting portion and the second fitting portion are made to be
fitted to each other and thus the electronic device can be easily
placed in a correct position of the placement portion in the
charger.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects
and advantages of the embodiments will become more apparent from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a non-limiting example
pedestal type device when viewing its front from obliquely
above.
FIG. 2A is a front view of the pedestal type device shown in FIG.
1, and FIG. 2B is a right side view of the pedestal type device
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing non-limiting mounting
structure of a connection portion shown in FIG. 1 when being viewed
from obliquely above.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view at a line IV-IV in FIG. 2B.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view viewing a front surface of
non-limiting example electronic device obliquely, and FIG. 5B is a
perspective view viewing a rear surface of the non-limiting example
electronic device obliquely.
FIG. 6 is an illustration view showing a manner that the electronic
device shown in FIG. 5 is placed on the pedestal type device shown
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7A is a sectional view showing a partial section of a state
just before an undersurface of the electronic device is brought
into contact with a cover when placing the electronic device shown
in FIG. 5 on the pedestal type device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7B is a
sectional view showing a partial section of a state where the
undersurface of the electronic device is brought into contact with
the cover when placing the electronic device shown in FIG. 5 on the
pedestal type device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7C is a sectional
view showing a partial section of a state where the cover is pushed
down by the undersurface of the electronic device when placing the
electronic device shown in FIG. 5 on the pedestal type device shown
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another non-limiting example
pedestal type device when viewing from its front.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing non-limiting mounting
structure of a connection portion of a second embodiment when being
viewed from obliquely above.
FIG. 10A is a sectional view showing a partial section of a state
where an undersurface of electronic device is brought into contact
with a depression portion of a first lock member when placing the
electronic device shown in FIG. 5 on the pedestal type device of
the second embodiment, FIG. 10B is a sectional view showing the
partial section of a state where the undersurface of the electronic
device is brought into contact with a cover when placing the
electronic device shown in FIG. 5 on the pedestal type device of
the second embodiment, and FIG. 10C is a sectional view showing a
partial section of a state where the cover is pushed down by the
undersurface of the electronic device when placing the electronic
device shown in FIG. 5 on the pedestal type device.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a further non-limiting
example pedestal type device when viewing its front from obliquely
above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a perspective view viewing a front surface of a
non-limiting example pedestal type device (cradle) 10 from
obliquely above. Furthermore, FIG. 2A is a front view viewing the
pedestal type device 10 from the front, and FIG. 2B is a right side
view viewing the pedestal type device 10 from a right side
surface.
With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the pedestal type
device 10 includes a main body 12 and a connection portion 14. As
well shown in FIG. 2B, the main body 12 is formed in a J-letter
shape when viewing from a right side surface, and constituted by a
first pedestal member 120 that electronic device 100 (see FIG. 5A
and FIG. 5B) is placed (attached) thereon and supports a rear
surface of the electronic device 100, a front support member 122
that supports a part of the electronic device 100 from a front
surface, and an accommodation member 124 that is provided in a rear
side of the first pedestal member 120. For example, the main body
12 (the first pedestal member 120, the front support member 122 and
the accommodation member 124) is formed by a synthetic resin such
as a plastic.
The first pedestal member 120 includes a placement portion 120a and
a rear support portion 120b, and the above-described connection
portion 14 is provided on the placement portion 120a. The rear
support portion 120b is formed in a plate shape, and provided
integrally with the placement portion 120a so as to be extended
upward from an upper surface of the placement portion 120a in a
rear side of the placement portion 120a. A convex portion 1200 that
is protruded toward a front side in a lower end portion of the
front side is provided in this rear support portion 120b.
The front support member 122 is a plate-like member provided in the
front side of the first pedestal member 120, and a part of an upper
end portion is lacked. Therefore, the front support member 122 has,
in both ends of a longitudinal direction, projection portions 1220
that are protruded upward.
The accommodation member 124 is a housing that accommodates various
kinds of electronic components of the pedestal type device 10, and
is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is opened in
the front side of the pedestal type device 10. An opening of the
accommodation member 124 (housing) is covered by a rear surface of
the placement portion 120a and the rear support portion 120b.
Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, as the
various kinds of electronic components, for example, a control
circuit for performing overall control of the pedestal type device
10, a charging circuit for charging a battery of the electronic
device 100 using a predetermined power supply such as commercial
power, a communication circuit for performing a communication with
the electronic device 100 and an AV (audio and visual (video))
circuit for outputting a video signal and an audio signal that are
received from the electronic device 100 to an output device such as
a television receiver, etc. correspond. That is, the pedestal type
device 10 is a charger having a charging function, and, in this
first embodiment, has not only the charging function but a
communication function. However, the communication function may not
be provided.
The connection portion 14 includes a male type connection terminal
(connection plug) 140 to be connected to a female type connection
terminal (connector) 106 of the electronic device 100, and a cover
142 surrounding this connection plug 140. As shown also in FIG. 2A
and FIG. 2B, the connection portion 14 is provided on the main body
12 (placement portion 120a) in a center of the main body 12
(placement portion 120a) so that a part of the connection portion
14 is protruded from an upper surface of the placement portion 120a
when the electronic device 100 is not placed.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view viewing the connection portion 14 and
the front of mounting structure 200 of this connection portion 14
from obliquely above. FIG. 4 is a IV-IV sectional view in FIG.
2B.
As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting structure 200 includes a second
pedestal member 202 that supports the connection portion 14, that
is, the connection plug 140 and the cover 142. A support portion
202a of the second pedestal member 202 is provided with four
cylinder members 202b in left and right end portions. These
cylinder members 202b are provided in order to fix the second
pedestal member 202 to the main body 12 (placement portion 120a) in
an inside of the placement portion 120a. However, the second
pedestal member 202 (mounting structure 200) is putted on a portion
of a bottom of the placement portion 120a, which has a larger
thickness compared with other portions.
Although illustration is omitted, a spiral thread is formed in an
inside of each of the cylinder members 202b, and fixed with a screw
from an undersurface of the placement portion 120a. However, since
the support portion 202a is also penetrated in positions where the
cylinder members 202b are provided, a hole of each of the cylinder
members 202b is through to the undersurface of the second pedestal
member 202. Furthermore, in the placement portion 120a, a bottom is
penetrated in positions corresponding to the positions where the
cylinder members 202b are provided.
In addition, although the second pedestal member 202 is fixed to a
bottom of an inside of the support portion 202a, the second
pedestal member 202 may be fixed in a ceiling side by providing a
screw hole extended downward from the ceiling of the support
portion 202a.
Furthermore, there are provided with two first attaching portions
202c on the support portion 202a. Each of the first attaching
portions 202c is disposed in the circumference of the cylinder
members 202b and near the center of the support portion 202a
compared with the cylinder members 202b. A first spring 204 for
supporting the cover 142 is attached on this first attaching
portion 202c.
The cover 142 is formed in a shape of oblong dome, and provided
with two first projections 142a in an upper surface thereof. For
example, the cover 142 is formed, likewise the main body 12, by a
synthetic resin such as a plastic. Furthermore, the two first
projections 142a are provided in end portions of a longitudinal
direction of the cover 142 with a predetermined interval. Although
the first projection 142a is formed in a shape near truncated cone
shape in this first embodiment, it may be formed in a shape of cone
or a hemisphere shape. Furthermore, the first projection 142a may
be formed in a shape of quadrangular pyramid trapezoid or
quadrangular pyramid having inclined surfaces (tapered surfaces) in
the front surface, rear surface, left side surface and right side
surface of the pedestal type device 10. However, the first
projection 142a may be formed in a shape of polygonal truncated
pyramid or polygonal pyramid having a bottom surface of a triangle,
a pentagon (regular pentagon), or more.
A first hole 142b that has a breadth extended in a longitudinal
direction of the cover 142 is formed between the two first
projections 142a and in a center of the cover 142. The connection
plug 140 is disposed inside this first hole 142b. Furthermore, a
notch 142c is provided in a center of the upper surface of the
cover 142 and in a rear side of the first hole 142b. This notch
142c is provided in order to prevent the cover 142 from being
brought into contact with the convex portion 1200.
Furthermore, two second attaching portions 142d are provided on a
rear side surface (ceiling) of the upper surface of the cover 142.
The second attaching portions 142d are disposed in positions on a
straight line with the first projection 142a. The first springs 204
are respectively attached to these second attaching portions 142d.
That is, one end of the first spring 204 is attached to the second
attaching portion 142d, and as described above, the other end of
the first spring 204 is attached to the first attaching portion
202c. Therefore, the cover 142 is supported from below with the
first springs 204.
Furthermore, the cover 142 is provided with a second projection
142e in a lower end portion of side surface thereof, which is
protruded outwardly of the cover 142 in a horizontal direction.
That is, the second projection 142e is formed in a shape of track
(oval) in top view. This second projection 142e is provided in
order to regulate an upward movement of the cover 142 by engaging
with the surface of the rear side (ceiling) of the upper surface of
the placement portion 120a as shown in FIG. 4.
Furthermore, as described later, when placing the electronic device
100 in a correct position of the placement portion 120a, the cover
142 is pushed down so that the upper surface is located slightly
above the upper surface of the placement portion 120a. That is,
before the cover 142 is pushed down to the lowermost, the
connection plug 140 is inserted to the depths of the connector 106
that is provided in the electronic device 100 (see FIG. 7C). This
is for avoiding a poor connection caused by the connection plug 140
is not inserted to the depths of the connector 106 due to assembly
errors, dimension errors of components, etc. Furthermore, even when
the cover 142 is further pushed down in a state where the
connection plug 140 is inserted to the depths of the connector 106,
since the connection plug 140 is supported with a second spring 206
as described later, the connection plug 140 is movable downward.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connection plug 140 and
the connector 106 from being damaged. Thus, a height of the cover
142 is set up so that the connector 106 and the connection plug 140
can be connected (fitted) to each other correctly. Here, correct
connection (fitting) means that electrodes of the connection plug
140 and electrodes of the connector 106 are brought into contact
with each other with length of at shortest effective fitting
length.
Furthermore, since a side surface of the cover 142 is brought into
contact with an outer periphery of a second hole 1202 that is
formed in the upper surface of the placement portion 120a, a
movement in the horizontal direction of the cover 142 is regulated.
That is, a movable range in the horizontal direction is determined
by a gap between the second hole 1202 and the cover 142.
Thus, the cover 142 has a movable range that is determined by the
first spring 204 and the second hole 1202 in an up-and-down
direction, a front-rear direction and a left-right direction when
viewing the pedestal type device 10 from the front.
Furthermore, the support portion 202a is provided with two
accommodation portions 202d that accommodate (hold) a third
pedestal member 208 movably in an up-and-down direction. The
accommodation portions 202d are adjacent to the first attaching
portions 202c, and are provided near a center in a longitudinal
direction of the support portion 202a as compared with the first
attaching portion 202c. The two accommodation portions 202d are
disposed so that respective openings face each other, and
accommodates stick-like support portions extended from both ends of
the third pedestal member 208. Furthermore, as well shown also in
FIG. 4, the accommodation portion 202d is formed in an L-letter
shape in section.
Moreover, a first concave portion 202e is provided in a center of
the support portion 202a. One end of the second spring 206 is
inserted (held) into the first concave portion 202e. The other end
of the second spring 206 is attached to a third attaching portion
208a (see FIG. 7A-FIG. 7C) that is provided on an undersurface of
the third pedestal member 208. A circuit board 210 is attached to
an upper surface of the third pedestal member 208. As described
later, the connection plug 140 is mounted on an upper surface of
this circuit board 210. Therefore, the circuit board 210
(connection plug 140) is supported movably at least in the
up-and-down direction by the second spring 206. However, since the
second spring 206 can be not only expanded/contracted but bent, the
circuit board 210 can be moved in the horizontal direction.
The connection plug 140 is mounted on the circuit board 210. As
shown also in FIG. 3, the connection plug 140 is electrically
connected to the circuit board 210 so that a
connection/disconnection direction of the connection plug 140
intersects perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board 210.
One end of a signal cable not shown is connected to the circuit
board 210. The signal cable is extended into an inside of the
accommodation member 124 through a third hole 1204 that
communicates the placement portion 120a and the accommodation
member 124 with each other. Then, the other end of the signal cable
is electrically connected to electronic components (control
circuit) accommodated in the accommodation member 124.
The connection plug 140 is a plug of USB Type-C, for example.
Therefore, this connection plug 140 is provided with two systems of
signal lines for USB 3.0 or more and a system of signal line for
USB 2.0. Furthermore, in an operation mode called an alternate
mode, it is possible to transmit data of other formats such as
Thunderbolt (registered trademark) 3, DisplayPort, MHL (Mobile
High-definition Link), etc. while changing with USB. However, a
kind (standard or format) of the connection plug 140 can be changed
suitably according to a kind of the connector 106 (see FIG. 7A-FIG.
7C) that is provided in the electronic device 100 and a format of
data communication.
As described above, the third pedestal member 208 is supported with
the second spring 206, and the support portions of the both ends
are accommodated in the accommodation portions 202d. Accordingly,
the circuit board 210 is movable up and down between the two
accommodation portions 202d. However, since upper end portions of
the accommodation portions 202d are not opened, the third pedestal
member 208 is regulated in a movement upward with being engaged by
the upper end portion of the accommodation portions 202d.
Therefore, upward movements of the circuit board 210 and the
connection plug 140 that is mounted on the circuit board 210 are
also regulated by the upper end portions of the accommodation
portions 202d.
Furthermore, the third pedestal member 208 is regulated a movement
in also the horizontal direction by the accommodation portions
202d. That is, a movable range of the third pedestal member 208 in
the horizontal direction is determined by a gap between the
accommodation portion 202d and the third pedestal member 208.
However, a movable range of the third pedestal member 208 in a
front-rear direction is determined by a gap between the
accommodation portions 202d and the support portion of the third
pedestal member 208. These are the same also about a movable range
of the circuit board 210 and the connection plug 140 in the
horizontal direction. However, since the connection plug 140 is
disposed inside the first hole 142b that is provided in the upper
surface of the cover 142, it is moved in the horizontal direction
following a horizontal movement of the cover 142.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view viewing the front of an appearance
configuration of the electronic device 100 of this first embodiment
from obliquely above. FIG. 5B is a perspective view viewing the
rear of the appearance configuration of the electronic device 100
of this first embodiment from obliquely below.
The electronic device 100 is an information processing apparatus or
information processing terminal such as an electronic notebook, an
electronic dictionary, a portable music player, a tablet PC, a
feature phone, a smartphone, a game machine, a digital camera,
etc., for example. The electronic device 100 is provided with a
display 104 such as an LCD at the front of a housing 102 that is
formed in a shape of rectangular parallelepiped. However, as the
display 104, in place of the LCD, an EL (Electronic Luminescence)
display and a plasma display may be used. Furthermore, a touch
panel is provided on an upper surface of the display 104. However,
in place of the display 104, a touch display that the display 104
and a touch panel are integrally formed may be provided.
In addition, although illustration is omitted, the electronic
device 100 is provided with hardware keys such as a power button, a
menu button, etc. in a portion where the display 104 is not
provided on the housing 102 thereof.
Furthermore, the housing 102 of the electronic device 100 does not
need to be limited to a shape of rectangular parallelepiped. For
example, surfaces constituting the housing 102 do not need to be
orthogonal to each other, and a part of the surfaces may be
slightly shifted from the right angle for an adjacent surface.
Furthermore, each side surface of the housing 102 of the electronic
device 100 may not be a flat surface, may be formed with a curved
surface that is curved outwardly. Furthermore, joining portions
that respective surfaces of the housing 102 of the electronic
device 100 are joined to each other may be made into a rounded
shape (R form).
For example, the electronic device 100 has a size at the time of
being viewed from the front, which is the same or almost the same
as a size of the rear support portion 120b at the time of viewing
the pedestal type device 10 from the front. Furthermore, a
thickness (length in a depth direction) of the electronic device
100 is the same or almost the same length as a distance between the
front support member 122 and the rear support portion 120b.
However, this is an example and should not be limited.
Although detailed description is omitted, in such the electronic
device 100, equipment dedicated applications or arbitrary
applications can be performed, icons or/and buttons are displayed
on the display 104, for example. A user advances a processing of
the application by performing a touch operation to an icon or/and a
button. Furthermore, an execution screen of the application is also
displayed on the display 104. Furthermore, a sound (music)
accompanying the execution of the application is output from a
speaker not shown. However, a sound may not be output.
Furthermore, although illustration is omitted, the electronic
device 100 can be operated with using an operation input device
while connecting the operation input device of hardware to the
electronic device 100. In FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, connection terminal
(connector) etc. for connecting the operation input device are also
omitted. However, the above-described hardware keys may be
used.
As shown in FIG. 5B, a second concave portion 102a is provided in
the rear surface of the housing 102 of the electronic device 100 in
a center of a lower end portion. The second concave portion 102a is
opened in the undersurface side of the housing 102 while concaved
toward an inside of the housing 102.
A breadth (width in the longitudinal direction of the electronic
device 100) of the second concave portion 102a is set slightly
larger than a breadth (width in the longitudinal direction of the
pedestal type device 10) of the convex portion 1200. A difference
(absolute value) between the breadth of this second concave portion
102a and the breadth of the convex portion 1200 is set larger than
a difference (absolute value) between a diameter of a bottom of the
first projection 142a and a diameter of an opening of a third
concave portion 102c (see FIG. 7A-FIG. 7C) to which this first
projection 142a is fitted. However, an opening portion of the third
concave portion 102c is equivalent to a bottom of a truncated cone
that is a shape of this third concave portion 102c. Furthermore,
the diameter of the opening of the third concave portion 102c is
larger than the diameter of the bottom of the first projection
142a.
Furthermore, in the second concave portion 102a, a width of a
portion that is opened in an undersurface side may be set larger
than a width of the convex portion 1200, and a width of a portion
except the opened portion may be set equal to the width of the
convex portion 1200. If doing in this way, it is easy to introduce
the convex portion 1200 into the second concave portion 102a.
A longitudinal length of the second concave portion 102a (length of
a short-sided direction of the electronic device 100) is set to a
length that the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is
brought into contact with the upper surface of the placement
portion 120a in a state where the convex portion 1200 is fitted to
the second concave portion 102a.
Furthermore, a hole 102b is formed in the undersurface of the
housing 102 in the center. The connector 106 (see FIG. 7A-FIG. 7C)
to which the connection plug 140 is connectable is provided in the
inside of the housing 102 in a position where the hole 102b is
formed. Although detailed description and illustration are omitted,
the connector 106 is provided in the inside of the electronic
device 100, is mounted on a circuit board on which various
electronic components, such a processor, a memory, etc. are
mounted, and is electrically connected to such the processor, etc.
In addition, the electronic components to be mounted differ
according to a function or/and use of the electronic device
100.
Furthermore, the two third concave portions 102c are provided so as
to sandwich the hole 102b. Each of the two third concave portions
102c is a concave portion (hole) having a shape the same or
approximately the same as a shape of the first projection 142a that
is formed in the upper surface of the cover 142 (see FIG. 7A-FIG.
7C). That is, the two third concave portions 102c are provided in
the undersurface orthogonally (it is not necessary to be 90 degrees
strictly) intersecting a rear surface that the second concave
portion 102a is provided. Therefore, when the electronic device 100
is placed on a correct position of the placement portion 120a of
the pedestal type device 10, the first projection 142a is fitted to
the third concave portion 102c.
A reason why the two first projections 142a and the two third
concave portions 102c are thus provided, respectively is not only
for positioning the connection plug 140 and the connector 106 so as
to be aligned on a straight line but for making a tip end surface
of the connection plug 140 and a tip end portion of the connector
106 face each other even if the electronic device 100 is turned in
the horizontal direction, at the time of placing the electronic
device 100 on the placement portion 120a of the pedestal type
device 10 as described later. Therefore, the first projection 142a
should just be provided two, and it does not need to be disposed so
as to sandwich the connection plug 140. Furthermore, although the
two first projections 142a and the connection plug 140 are disposed
so as to be aligned on a straight line (in a row) in this first
embodiment, it does not need to be limited to this. For example,
the connection plug 140 may be disposed so as to avoid the straight
line passing along the two first projections 142a. However, in
either case, it is necessary to match disposal of the connection
plug 140 and disposal of the connector 106 with each other and
match disposal of the two first projections 142a and disposal of
the two third concave portions 102c with each other so that the
connection plug 140 can be inserted into the connector 106.
FIG. 6 is an illustration view for explaining a direction that the
electronic device 100 is moved when placing the electronic device
100 on the pedestal type device 10. FIG. 7A is a sectional view
showing a partial section of a state just before the undersurface
of the electronic device 100 is brought into contact with the cover
142 when placing the electronic device 100 on the pedestal type
device 10. FIG. 7B is a sectional view showing a partial section of
a state where the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is
brought into contact with the cover 142 when placing ting the
electronic device 100 on the pedestal type device 10. FIG. 7C is a
sectional view showing a partial section of a state where the cover
142 is pushed down by the undersurface of the electronic device 100
when placing the electronic device 100 on the pedestal type device
10.
For example, when charging the electronic device 100, in order to
place the electronic device 100 on the placement portion 120a of
the pedestal type device 10, as shown in FIG. 6, the electronic
device 100 is moved toward the first pedestal member 120. In FIG.
6, a moving direction (inserting direction) of the electronic
device 100 is shown by an arrow mark, and it is downward, for
example. However, the moving direction can also be referred to as a
direction the electronic device 100 is placed on the placement
portion 120a. If the electronic device 100 is further moved, the
convex portion 1200 that is provided in the lower end portion of
the rear support portion 120b of the pedestal type device 10 is
fitted to the second concave portion 102a that is provided in the
lower end portion of the housing 102 of the electronic device 100.
That is, a position where the electronic device 100 is to be placed
on the pedestal type device 10 is determined. Therefore, each of
the second concave portion 102a and the convex portion 1200 can be
referred to as a positioning member for determining the position of
the electronic device 100 to the pedestal type device 10.
When the convex portion 1200 begins to be fitted into the second
concave portion 102a, as shown in FIG. 7A, the hole 102b that is
formed in the undersurface of the electronic device 100 faces the
connection plug 140 and each of the two third concave portions 102c
faces each of the two first projections 142a.
If the electronic device 100 is further moved downward from a state
shown in FIG. 7A, as shown in FIG. 7B, each of the two first
projections 142a is fitted to corresponding each of the two third
concave portions 102c, and the undersurface of the electronic
device 100 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the
cover 142.
If the electronic device 100 is further moved downward from a state
shown in FIG. 7B, as shown in FIG. 7C, the cover 142 is pushed down
by the electronic device 100. The two first projections 142a are
moved downward in conjunction with the cover 142. That is, since
the first projection 142a having an inclined surface is fitted to
the third concave portion 102c having an inclined surface in a
state where the convex portion 1200 is fitted to the second concave
portion 102a, the cover 142 is moved horizontally within the
movable range, whereby a gap between the first projection 142a and
the third concave portion 102c can be absorbed (compensated).
Therefore, the connector 106 of the electronic device 100 and the
connection plug 140 of the pedestal type device 10 are positioned,
and the cover 142 is pushed down together with the electronic
device 100, whereby the connector 106 and the connection plug 140
can be connected to each other. However, by pushing the cover 142
down, in conjunction with this, the connection plug 140 is exposed
gradually. Furthermore, each of the third concave portions 102c and
the first projections 142a can be referred to as a positioning
member of the connector 106 to the connection plug 140.
Thus, a position that the electronic device 100 is to be placed on
the pedestal type device 10 is determined by the second concave
portion 102a provided on the housing 102 and the convex portion
1200 provided in the rear support portion 120b of the pedestal type
device 10, and subsequently, a position of the connector 106 to the
connection plug 140 is determined by the two third concave portions
102c provided in the undersurface of the electronic device 100 and
the two first projections 142a provided in the upper surface of the
cover 142. That is, the position of the connector 106 to the
connection plug 140 is roughly determined by the second concave
portion 102a and the convex portion 1200, and then, the position of
the connector 106 to the connection plug 140 is determined finely
(precisely) by the third concave portions 102c and the first
projections 142a. Thus, since high-precision positioning is
performed following low-precision positioning, the position of the
connector 106 to the connection plug 140 can be determined easily
and precisely.
Therefore, when the electronic device 100 is placed on a correct
position of the placement portion 120a of the pedestal type device
10 so that the convex portion 1200 is fitted to the second concave
portion 102a as shown also in FIG. 7C, the connection plug 140 is
inserted into the depths of the connector 106. That is, the
connection plug 140 and the connector 106 are fitted (connected) to
each other. Therefore, even if an effective fitting length of the
connection plug 140 and the connector 106 is comparatively short,
the pedestal type device 10 and the electronic device 100 can be
electrically connected surely.
If the pedestal type device 10 and the electronic device 100 are
electrically connected, charging of the battery built in the
electronic device 100 is started. However, when battery residual
quantity is 100%, charging is not performed or charge is ended. The
pedestal type device 10 and the electronic device 100 are thus
configured to be electrically connectable to each other. Therefore,
a charging system is constructed by the pedestal type device 10 and
the electronic device 100.
Although a case where a center of the hole 102b and a center of the
connection plug 140 are aligned on a straight line and a center of
the third concave portion 102c and a center of the first projection
142a are aligned on a straight line is shown in FIG. 7A-FIG. 7C,
since the width of the second concave portion 102a is made larger
than somewhat the width of the convex portion 1200, there is
possibility that the center of the hole 102b and the center of the
connection plug 140 are slightly shifted from each other and the
center of the third concave portion 102c and the center of the
first projection 142a are slightly shifted from each other. Even in
such a case, the connection plug 140 is moved within the movable
range in the horizontal direction according to a movement of the
cover 142, and therefore, the first projection 142a having the
inclined surface is fitted to the third concave portion 102c having
the inclined surface. Therefore, when the convex portion 1200 is
fitted to the second concave portion 102a, the first projection
142a is fitted to the third concave portion 102c, and the
connection plug 140 is connected to the connector 106.
Although illustration is omitted, when the convex portion 1200 is
not fitted to the second concave portion 102a because the positions
of the second concave portion 102a and the convex portion 1200 are
shifted from each other, the electronic device 100 cannot be placed
on the correct position of the placement portion 120a of the
pedestal type device 10, and therefore, the undersurface of the
electronic device 100 is not brought into contact with the cover
142. Furthermore, even if the undersurface of the electronic device
100 is brought into contact with the cover 142, the cover 142 is
hardly pushed down. This is because the convex portion 1200 is
disposed above the first projection 142a (cover 142) as shown also
in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 6.
Thus, when the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is not
brought into contact with the cover 142, the connection plug 140 is
in a state of being still covered with the cover 142 except for its
tip end portion. That is, the connection plug 140 is protected by
the cover 142. However, when the undersurface of the electronic
device 100 is brought into contact with the cover 142 and thus the
cover 142 is slightly pushed down, the undersurface of the
electronic device 100 may be brought into contact with the
connection plug 140. In this case, since the connection plug 140 is
supported by the second spring 206, the same is moved downward.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent a fault that the connection
plug 140 is broken at a connecting portion with the circuit board
210 from occurring.
However, as described above, when the electronic device 100 is
placed on the correct position of the placement portion 120a of the
pedestal type device 10, since the connection plug 140 needs to be
inserted into the connector 106, a spring load of the second spring
206 (compression spring) is set as a value larger than a maximum
insertion force (7 (N), for example) of the connector 106.
Furthermore, since the pedestal type device 10 and the electronic
device 100 are connected to each other in a communicable manner by
the connection plug 140 and the connector 106, it is possible to
transmit an image or video drawn (reproduced) by the electronic
device 100 to the pedestal type device 10, for example. As
described above, since the pedestal type device 10 is connectable
to a television receiver, the image or video drawn (reproduced) by
the electronic device 100 can be output to the television receiver
via the pedestal type device 10. Furthermore, a sound reproduced by
the electronic device 100 can also be transmitted to the pedestal
type device 10.
Although illustration is omitted, the pedestal type device 10 is
connected to a television receiver using an interface and cable of
a form such as DisplayPort, HDMI (registered trademark) DVI, D-SUB,
etc.
Therefore, when the electronic device 100 is a game machine, it is
possible to play, while charging, a game so that a game screen is
displayed on a monitor of the television receiver and a sound is
output from a speaker of the television receiver. Furthermore, if
the electronic device 100 is a tablet PC, it is possible to
perform, while charging, an application that can be performed by
the tablet PC concerned so that an execution screen is displayed on
a monitor of the television receiver and a sound accompanying the
execution of application is output from a speaker if needed.
Although a description is omitted, this is the same to other kinds
of electronic device 100.
Furthermore, when the electronic device 100 is removed (separated)
from the pedestal type device 10 after the charging of the battery
built in the electronic device 100 is ended, a user lifts the
electronic device 100, for example. At this time, since the
pedestal type device 10 is in a state where it is put on an
arbitrary location, such as a television stand, a desk or the like,
in order to separate (remove) the connection plug 140 from the
connector 106, even if the electronic device 100 is lifted, the
pedestal type device 10 should not follow it.
Therefore, in this first embodiment, in order to make the pedestal
type device 10 not follow the electronic device 100 and thus to
separate the connection plug 140 from the connector 106 even if the
electronic device 100 is lifted, a lower limit of the spring load
of the first spring 204 (extension spring) is determined according
to a formula 1. Here, a spring load is F (N), a weight of the
pedestal type device 10 is M (kg), a maximum removal force of the
connector 106 is f (N), and a gravitational acceleration is g
(m/s.sup.2). For example, the maximum removal force f is 3 (N) and
the gravitational acceleration is 9.8 (m/s.sup.2). In addition,
each physical quantity is represented with the SI system of units.
F>f-Mg [Formula 1]
However, if the spring load F (N) is made too large, there may
occur that the electronic device 100 is pushed up by a restoring
force of the first spring 204, and therefore, a fitting state
(connection state) of the connection plug 140 and the connector 106
is released. In order to avoid such inconvenience, an upper limit
of the spring load F (N) of the first spring 204 is determined
according to a formula 2. Here, a weight of the electronic device
100 is m (kg). F<mg+f [Formula 2]
The spring load F (N) is thus set up within a range of the upper
limit and the lower limit according to the formula 1 and the
formula 2. Therefore, when the electronic device 100 is placed on
the placement portion 120a of the pedestal type device 10, a
fitting state of the connection plug 140 and the connector 106 is
maintained, and accordingly, when removing (lifting) the electronic
device 100 from the pedestal type device 10, the connection plug
140 can be surely separated from the connector 106 without pressing
down the pedestal type device 10.
According to this first embodiment, a position of the electronic
device to pedestal type device is determined by the second concave
portion provided in the rear surface of the electronic device and
the convex portion provided in the rear support portion of the
pedestal type device, and a position of the connector to the
connection plug is determined by the two third concave portions
provided in the undersurface of the electronic device and the two
first projections provided in the upper surface of the cover of the
pedestal type device, and therefore, even if the connection portion
of the connection plug and the connector is invisible, by shifting
the position of the electronic device so that the convex portion
may be fitted to the second concave portion, it is possible to
place the electronic device on a correct position of the placement
portion of the pedestal type device. That is, even if it is
impossible to see the connection portion of the connection plug and
the connector, the connection plug can be inserted into the
connector surely.
Furthermore, according to this first embodiment, since the
connection plug is inserted to the depths of the connector when the
electronic device is placed on the correct position of the
placement portion of pedestal type device, even if the effective
fitting length of the connection plug and the connector is
comparatively short, the pedestal type device and the electronic
device are electrically connected to each other surely.
Moreover, according to this first embodiment, since the connection
plug is supported by means of the spring, the connection plug is
movable in a vertical direction, and movable also in the horizontal
direction according to the movement of the cover in the horizontal
direction. Therefore, the connection plug is moved downward when
the connector is brought into contact with the tip end of the
connection plug, or the connection plug follows the movement of the
cover in the horizontal direction when connecting it to the
connector, and therefore, when placing the electronic device on the
placement portion of the pedestal type device, while being able to
reduce damage by collision as much as possible, the connection plug
can follow a motion of the electronic device.
Moreover, according to this first embodiment, since the cover is
supported by means of the spring, when the electronic device is
placed on the placement portion of the pedestal type device, it is
possible to move the cover in the horizontal direction according to
the position of the electronic device. Furthermore, by setting the
spring load of the spring that supports the cover to an appropriate
value, the fitting state of the connection plug and the connector
cannot be released when the electronic device is being placed on
the pedestal, and when lifting the electronic device from the
pedestal type device, the pedestal type device does not follow the
electronic device, and thus, it is possible to separate the
connection plug from the connector.
In addition, although the convex portion is provided in the center
of the lower end portion of the rear support portion of the
pedestal type device and the second concave portion is provided in
the center of the lower end portion of the rear surface of the
electronic device in the first embodiment, as long as the
connection plug can be inserted in the connector, these positions
may be set in positions other than the center. Furthermore, the
numbers of the convex portions and the second concave portions may
be two or more, respectively. Moreover, the convex portion may be
provided in a side of the electronic device, and the second concave
portion may be provided in a side of the pedestal type device.
However, if there is no gap between the electronic device and the
rear support portion, or when there is almost nothing, it is
necessary to form the second concave portion from the lower end of
the rear support portion to the upper end.
Second Embodiment
Since a pedestal type device 10 of the second embodiment is the
same as the pedestal type device 10 of the first embodiment except
that the electronic device 100 is made to be able to be placed even
if a front side and a rear side thereof are reversed, a duplicate
description will be omitted, or described briefly. Furthermore, in
the drawing, the same reference numerals will be applied to
portions common to those of the first embodiment.
The connection plug 140 shown in the first embodiment can be used
in both front and rear. That is, the connection plug 140 can be
inserted into the connector 106 without caring front or rear. As
described above, in the second embodiment, in order to make the
electronic device 100 be able to be placed even if the front side
and the rear side are reversed, the second concave portion 102a
that is provided in the rear surface of the electronic device 100
shown in the first embodiment is eliminated and the convex portion
1200 that is provided in the pedestal type device 10 shown in the
first embodiment is eliminated. With this change, a part of form of
the cover 142 and its mounting structure 200 of the first
embodiment are changed.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view viewing a section of the pedestal type
device 10 in the second embodiment from the front. FIG. 9 is a
perspective view viewing the mounting structure 300 of the cover
342 in the second embodiment from obliquely above.
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the mounting structure 300 includes
a fourth pedestal member 302. The fourth pedestal member 302 is
constituted by two support portions 302a and two fourth attaching
portions 302b. If viewing a section of the support portion 302a
from the front, the support portion 302a has a portion that is
formed in a concave portion, and the fourth attaching portion 302b
is provided in a bottom of the concave portion.
The support portion 302a is protruded out of the concave portion in
one upper end portion of the concave portion, and has an engaging
portion that regulates a upward movement of a fifth pedestal member
308. Furthermore, the support portion 302a has a plate-like portion
that is extended out of the concave portion in the horizontal
direction in the other upper end portion of the concave
portion.
Although illustration is omitted, the fourth attaching portion 302b
has a screw hole that a spiral slot is formed in an inside thereof.
However, in a position where the fourth attaching portion 302b is
provided, the support portion 302a is also penetrated, and
therefore, a screw hole of the fourth attaching portion 302b is
communicated to an undersurface of the fourth pedestal member 302.
Furthermore, in the placement portion 120a, a bottom of a position
corresponding to the position where the fourth attaching portion
302b is provided is penetrated. Therefore, the fourth pedestal
member 302 is fixed with a screw from the undersurface of the
placement portion 120a.
Furthermore, one end of a third spring 304 is mounted to the fourth
attaching portion 302b. The other end of the third spring 304 is
attached to a fifth attaching portion 310b that is provided in an
undersurface of a first lock member 310. That is, the first lock
member 310 is supported by means of the third spring 304 from
below, and can be displaced in an up-and-down direction.
However, the fifth pedestal member 308 is equivalent to one that
the support portions of both ends are eliminated from the third
pedestal member 208 shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, in
the second embodiment, the fifth pedestal member 308 is sandwiched
by the two support portions 302a. Furthermore, in the second
embodiment, likewise the first embodiment, the circuit board 210 is
attached to the fifth pedestal member 308, and further, the
connection plug 140 is mounted on the upper surface of the circuit
board 210.
Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a sixth attaching portion
308a is formed in an undersurface of the fifth pedestal member 308,
to which one end of a fourth spring 306 is attached. The other end
of the fourth spring 306 is fitted (held) to a fourth concave
portion 1222 that is formed in a bottom of an inside of the
placement portion 120a. Therefore, the fifth pedestal member 308 is
supported by means of the fourth spring 306 so as to be movable in
the up-and-down direction at least. However, since the fourth
spring 306 can be not only expanded/contracted but bent, the fifth
pedestal member 308 is movable in the horizontal direction.
Therefore, the circuit board 210 and the connection plug 140 are
also movable in the up-and-down direction and the horizontal
direction.
Furthermore, a depression portion 310a of a shape of quadrangular
prism is provided on an upper surface of a first lock member 310
and above the fifth attaching portion 310b. This depression portion
310a is disposed between a third projection 342a that is formed on
the upper surface of the cover 342 and a fourth hole 342b through
which the connection plug 140 is passed, and an inside of a fifth
hole 342c that is provided near the third projection 342a.
Furthermore, this depression portion 310a is set in a height as the
same as that of the third projection 342a or lower than the third
projection 342a before the electronic device 100 is placed on the
placement portion 120a.
Moreover, an engaging portion 310c that is formed in a L-letter
shape in section is provided in the first lock member 310. The
engaging portion 310c is protruded toward the cover 342, and
inclined so as to rise in that protruded portion as a lower end
surface opposite to an upper end surface that is engaged (brought
into contact) with the cover 342 goes toward a side surface of the
cover 342. That is, an inclined surface is formed in the
undersurface (side surface) of the engaging portion 310c.
Between a ceiling of the placement portion 120a and a plate-like
portion of the support portion 302a, a second lock member 312 and a
fifth spring 314 are provided. The second lock member 312 is formed
in a shape of rod. In this second embodiment, one end portion of
the second lock member 312 is fitted to a portion of a notch 342d
that is formed in a lower end portion on the left (or right) of the
cover 342, thereby to regulate a downward movement of the cover
342. That is, the cover 342 is locked. Furthermore, the other end
portion of the second lock member 312 is formed more thinly than
the one end portion, to which one end of the fifth spring 314 is
attached. The other end portion of the fifth spring 314 is brought
into contact with a wall 1206 that is extended downward from the
ceiling of the placement portion 120a. Therefore, the second lock
member 312 is provided movably in a longitudinal direction thereof
(left-right direction).
Furthermore, the cover 342 is provided with a fourth projection
342e that is protruded out of the cover 342 in a horizontal
direction in a lower end portion of the side surface in a portion
where the notch 342d is not formed. This fourth projection 342e is
provided in order to regulate an upward movement of the cover 342
while being engaged with a rear side surface (ceiling) of the upper
surface of the placement portion 120a.
FIG. 10A is a sectional view showing a partial section of a state
where the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is brought into
contact with the depression portion 310a of the first lock member
310 when placing the electronic device 100 on the pedestal type
device 10. FIG. 10B is a sectional view showing the partial section
of a state where the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is
brought into contact with the cover 342 when placing the electronic
device 100 on the pedestal type device 10. FIG. 10C is a sectional
view showing the partial section in the state where the cover 342
is pushed down by the undersurface of the electronic device 100
when placing the electronic device 100 on the pedestal type device
10.
In also the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when the
electronic device 100 is moved in the moving direction and the
position of the electronic device 100 to the pedestal type device
10 is correct, as shown in FIG. 10A, the undersurface of the
electronic device 100 is brought into contact with (abutted on) the
upper surface of the depression portion 310a of the first lock
member 310. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10A, the hole 102b
formed in the undersurface of the electronic device 100 faces the
connection plug 140, and each of the two third concave portions
102c faces each of the two third projections 342a formed in the
upper surface of the cover 342.
If the electronic device 100 is further moved downward from a state
shown in FIG. 10A, as shown in FIG. 10B, the first lock member 310
is pushed down. Then, due to the inclined surface of the first lock
member 310, the second lock member 312 is moved toward the end
portion of the left or the right away from the center of the
pedestal type device 10. Therefore, the lock of the cover 342 is
released. Accordingly, each of the two third projections 342a is
fitted to corresponding each of the two third concave portions
102c, and the undersurface of the electronic device 100 is brought
into contact with the upper surface of the cover 342. In the second
embodiment, when the lock is released, each of the two third
projections 342a is fitted to corresponding each of the two third
concave portions 102c.
If the electronic device 100 is further moved downward from a state
shown in FIG. 10B, as shown in FIG. 10C, the cover 342 is pushed
down by the electronic device 100. Likewise the first embodiment,
the two third projections 342a are moved downward in conjunction
with the cover 342. That is, when the third projections 342a are
fitted to the third concave portions 102c, the connector 106 of the
electronic device 100 and the connection plug 140 of the pedestal
type device 10 are positioned, and the cover 342 is pushed down
together with the electronic device 100. Therefore, the connection
plug 140 is connected to the connector 106. However, in also the
second embodiment, likewise the first embodiment, if the cover 342
is pushed down, in conjunction with this, the connection plug 140
is gradually exposed.
Thus, in the second embodiment, a position of the electronic device
100 to the pedestal type device 10 is determined by matching the
position thereof to a position capable of releasing the lock, and a
position of the connector 106 to the connection plug 140 is
determined by the two third concave portions 102c provided in the
undersurface of the electronic device 100 and the two third
projections 342a provided in the upper surface of the cover 342.
Therefore, as shown also in FIG. 10C, when the electronic device
100 is placed on the correct position of the placement portion 120a
of the pedestal type device 10, the connection plug 140 is inserted
to the depths of the connector 106.
Although illustration is omitted, since the electronic device 100
is not placed on the correct position of the placement portion 120a
of the pedestal type device 10 when the electronic device 100 is
shifted from the position capable of releasing the lock, the
undersurface of the electronic device 100 is not brought into
contact with the cover 342 and the depression portion 310a of the
first lock member 310. Otherwise, even if the undersurface of the
electronic device 100 is brought into contact with the first lock
member 310, the first lock member 310 is hardly pushed down.
In such a case, since the lock of the cover 342 is not released,
likewise the first embodiment, the connection plug 140 is in a
state still covered with the cover 342 except for the tip end
portion thereof. However, when the lock of the cover 342 is
released and the cover 342 is slightly pushed down, the
undersurface of the electronic device 100 may be brought into
contact with the connection plug 140. In this case, since the
connection plug 140 is supported by the fourth spring 306, it is
moved downward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a fault that
the connection plug 140 is broken at a connecting portion with the
circuit board 210 from occurring.
Furthermore, although detailed description is omitted, also in the
second embodiment, likewise the first embodiment, a spring load F
of the third spring 304 is appropriately set up according to the
formula 1 and the formula 2. Furthermore, a spring load of the
fourth spring 306 (compression spring) is also set up, likewise the
first embodiment, to a value larger than a maximum insertion force
(7(N), for example) of the connector 106.
Moreover, in the second embodiment, when removing (lifting) the
electronic device 100 from the pedestal type device 10, according
to a movement of the electronic device 100 upward, the first lock
member 310 and the cover 342 are also moved upward. As shown in
FIG. 10A-FIG. 10C, in the second lock member 312, the lower end
surface is inclined in the end portion of the first lock member 310
so as to rise as the lower end surface goes toward the side surface
of the first lock member 310. That is, an inclined surface is
formed in the undersurface (side surface) of the second lock member
312. Therefore, since the upper end portion of the engaging portion
310c is moved along the inclined surface of the second lock member
312 when the first lock member 310 rises, the engaging portion 310c
is not engaged with the second lock member 312. Therefore, if the
electronic device 100 is removed from the pedestal type device 10,
the first lock member 310 and the second lock member 312 return to
their original positions together with the cover 342.
According to the second embodiment, since a lock mechanism for
locking the cover is provided in the mounting structure, even if
the convex portion 1200 and the second concave portion 102a shown
in the first embodiment are not provided, it is possible to obtain,
by this lock mechanism, the same effect as a case where the
electronic device 100 to the pedestal type device 10 is positioned
by the convex portion 1200 and the second concave portion 102a.
Therefore, in also the second embodiment, the same effect as the
first embodiment can be expected.
In addition, in the second embodiment, in order to make the
electronic device 100 be able to be placed on the placement portion
120a of the pedestal type device 10 even if the front side and the
rear side are reversed, the rear support portion 120b is not
provided with the convex portion 1200 and the rear surface of the
electronic device 100 is not provided with the second concave
portion 102a; however, the convex portion 1200 and the second
concave portion 102a may be provided likewise the first embodiment
and thus the electronic device 100 may be made to be able to be
placed on the pedestal type device 10 in a state where the
electronic device 100 is oriented to one direction. In this case,
it is thinkable that it is possible to easily lead the position of
the electronic device to the position capable of releasing the lock
by the convex portion 1200 and the second concave portion 102a.
Furthermore, although a case where the size of the front of the
electronic device is almost the same as that of the front of the
rear support portion of pedestal type device is described in each
above-described embodiment, it does not need to be limited to this.
For example, the size of the front of the electronic device may be
smaller than the size of the front of the rear support portion of
pedestal type device. Furthermore, since the left and right side
surfaces and the upper surface of the first pedestal member are
opened in the pedestal type device of the above-described
embodiments when viewing it from the front, the size of the front
of the electronic device may be larger than the size of the front
of rear support portion. However, in either case, the electronic
device needs to have the second concave portion to which the convex
portion provided in the rear support portion of the pedestal type
device is fitted and to have the hole that the connector is
disposed between the two third concave portions to which the
projections provided on the cover of the pedestal type device are
fitted in a plane that is adjacent to a surface on which the second
concave portion is provided and orthogonally intersecting or
substantively orthogonally intersecting the surface concerned.
Therefore, by the pedestal type device of the embodiments, it is
possible to charge electronic device that is of the same kind but
has different size of the display (main body), and to perform data
communication. Furthermore, depending on the positions of the
second concave portion and the third concave portion, the
electronic device can be made to be a vertically placed type rather
than a horizontally placed type as in the above-described
embodiments.
Moreover, although each of the cover and the connection plug is
supported using the spring that is an example of an elastic body in
the above-described embodiments, at least one of the cover and the
connection plug may be supported using rubber.
Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, in order
to make possible to visually recognize the front (front surface) of
the electronic device, i.e., the display of the electronic device,
and to support the electronic device from the front, the front
support member except for the projection portions is set to a
height comparable as the upper surface (except for the projections)
of the cover. Therefore, it is also possible to place the
electronic device on the placement portion of the pedestal type
device while seeing the connection portion of the connection plug
and the connector. However, this is an example, and as shown in
FIG. 11, the front support member may be formed in a shape of
rectangular plate so that an upper end thereof may become the same
height or almost the same height as the upper surface of the rear
support portion (accommodation member). Otherwise, it is possible
to make a plate-like cover having a planer shape at the time of
viewing the pedestal type device from the front be attachable to
the front surface of the front support member.
When doing in this way, it is impossible to see the connection
portion of the connection plug and the connector, or it is very
difficult to see it. However, in the first embodiment, if the
convex portion of the rear support portion of the pedestal type
device is fitted to the second concave portion of the rear surface
of the electronic device, the two third projections of the cover of
the pedestal type device are fitted to the two third concave
portions in the undersurface of the electronic device, whereby the
connection plug can be inserted to the connector. Furthermore, in
the second embodiment, if matching the position of the electronic
device to the position capable of releasing the lock, the lock of
the cover is released while the two third projections of the cover
of the pedestal type device are fitted to the two third concave
portions in the undersurface of the electronic device, whereby the
connection plug can be inserted to the connector. That is, even if
the connection portion is invisible, it is possible to position the
electronic device to the pedestal type device thereby inserting the
connection plug to the connector easily. Furthermore, before
positioning the electronic device to the pedestal type device,
since the connection plug is protected by the cover and is movable
in the vertical direction, it is possible to prevent a fault that
the connection plug is broken at the connecting portion with the
circuit board from occurring.
In an aspect, an embodiment is a charger that charges an electronic
device that has a first connection terminal and is placed on a
placement portion of the charger, comprising: a second connection
terminal configured to be electrically connected to the first
connection terminal of the electronic device; and a spring that
supports the second connection terminal movably in a direction that
the electronic device is attached or detached, wherein a spring
load of the spring is larger than a difference obtained by
subtracting a weight of the charger from a maximum value of a
removal force in removing the first connection terminal from the
second connection terminal.
According to this embodiment, since the spring load of the spring
supporting the second connection terminal is set larger than the
difference obtained by subtracting the weight of the charger from
the maximum value of the removal force in removing the first
connection terminal from the second connection terminal, it is
possible to release the connection of the first connection terminal
and the second connection terminal by lifting the electronic device
while still putting the charger, without making the charger follow
the electronic device.
In another aspect, an embodiment is a charger that charges an
electronic device that has a first connection terminal and is
placed on a placement portion of the charger, comprising: a second
connection terminal configured to be electrically connected to the
first connection terminal of the electronic device; and a spring
that supports the second connection terminal movably in a direction
that the electronic device is attached or detached, wherein a
spring load of the spring is larger than a maximum value of an
insertion force in inserting the second connection terminal to the
first connection terminal.
According to this embodiment, since the spring load of the spring
supporting the second connection terminal is set larger than the
maximum value of the insertion force in inserting the second
connection terminal into the first connection terminal, it is
possible to insert the second connection terminal to the depths of
the first connection terminal by only placing the electronic device
on the placement portion of the charger.
In another aspect, an embodiment is a charger that charges an
electronic device that has a first connection terminal and is
placed on a placement portion of the charger, comprising: a second
connection terminal configured to be electrically connected to the
first connection terminal of the electronic device; a first movable
member that surrounds the second connection terminal and is movable
in a direction that the electronic device is attached or detached;
a second movable member that is moved, when placing the electronic
device, in a placing direction of the electronic device; and a
third movable member that regulates a movement of the first movable
member toward the placing direction when the second movable member
is not moved, and is moved, when the second movable member is
moved, in a direction perpendicular to the placing direction
according to a movement of the second movable member so as to
release regulation to the movement of the first movable member in
the placing direction.
According to this embodiment, at the time that the electronic
device is place, if the second movable member is moved in the
placing direction of the electronic device, the third movable
member is moved according to this movement, whereby a state where
the movement in the placing direction of the first movable member
is regulated to a state where the regulation is released. That is,
it is possible to provide a lock mechanism that makes the first
movable member in a movable state in the placing direction of the
electronic device only when the second movable member is moved in
the placing direction.
In a further embodiment, the charger further comprises a second
fitting portion configured to be fitted to a first fitting portion
in the electronic device. The second movable member is configured
to move according to the movement of the electronic device, when
the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting
portion.
According to this embodiment, by only fitting the first fitting
portion and the second fitting portion to each other, the lock can
be released.
In another embodiment, the charger further comprises a fourth
fitting portion configured to be fitted to a third fitting portion
in the same plane of the electronic device as a plane that the
first connection terminal is provided. The first movable member is
configured to move in the placing direction of the electronic
device when the third fitting portion is fitted to the fourth
fitting portion.
According to this embodiment, if it is constituted so that the
first connection terminal and the second connection terminal face
each other when the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting
portion are fitted to each other, when the third fitting portion
and the fourth fitting portion are fitted to each other, the lock
is released and the position of the second connection terminal to
the first connection terminal can be determined.
Although certain example systems, devices and apparatuses have been
described herein, it is to be understood that the appended claims
are not to be limited to the systems, devices and apparatuses
disclosed, but on the contrary, are intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *